Adjusting mechanism for multiple lever tools



Oct. 24, 1950 J. w. GEDDES ET AL 2,527,496

ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE LEVER TOOLS Filed Feb. 4, 1947late'nted Oct. 24,

ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE LEVER TOOLS John W. Gedde's, Boston,and Willis F. Tibbetts, Reading, Mass., assignors to H. K. Porter, Inc.,Somerville, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 4,1947, Serial No. 726,317

1 Claim.

This invention relates to compound-lever tools of which the toolcommonly known as a bolt clipper is a well known example, and the objectis to provide an improved construction whereby the relative position ofthe pivotal centers may be adjusted as is necessary, for example, in abolt clipper or like cutting tool when the edges are resharpened andwould thereafter fail to meet unless suitable adjustment were made. Theobject of the invention is to provide within the existing dimensionallimitations a simple, strong, readily manipulated construction and onewhich will be free from objectionable protrusion, whereby the tool as awhole will be of smooth or streamline exterior contour.

The invention will be well understood by reference to the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment thereof as shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein there is illustrated a tool of the boltcutter type and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the tool with a portion of the handles brokenaway;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation, with parts in section, of a portion ofFig. 1 corresponding to what appears in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of a portion of the tool as seen from the rightof Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections on the correspondingly numbered lines ofFig. 2 respectively.

Referring to the drawings, there is there shown a compound-lever toolincluding a pair of jawcarrying levers 6 pivoted between their ends onthe cross straps 8, since in the example shown the jaw levers do notcross, and have opposed cutting edges ID. The levers 6 are operated byhandle levers l2 pivoted together at M, while the tails of thejaw-carrying levers are pivoted (each through an intermediary elementhereinafter more fully described) at the points l6 to the handles insuch a way that the pivots l4 and I6 define a toggle which isstraightened as the handle levers are brought together to press the jawstogether with great force. To permit adjustment the connection of thejaw-carrying levers to the handles is made through adjusting sections"[8 pivoted to the jaw levers at I6 and to the handles at 20 and inoperation are rigidly connected with one of the parts (herein thehandle) to act as one therewith. Herein the section l8 takes the generalform of a channel with its web overlying the outwardly facing edges ofthe handle and with flanges at either side thereof extending over theupper and lower portions of the jaw and handle levers and receiving thepivots l6 and 20.

justing means is provided for rigidly positioning the section relativeto one of the parts, herein the handle, so that in use the pivot to thatpart, as 20, does not function as such.

The adjusting means herein provided is of known type in that it embodiestwo oppositely acting screw mechanisms, one tending tothrust the section[8 and lever l2 away from each other around pivot '20 and the othertending to draw them together about such pivot. In tools of the kindunder discussion, the strains are great and the dimensions of the partsrestricted. Therefore, while the motions involved in a mechanism of thistype are simple, an easily operated, efiicient mechanism of adequatestrength and of sufiiciently small size and which yet will exhibit thedesirable smooth streamlined exterior contour has not yet been devisedin a form suitable for practical use. The requirements are met by thepresent invention which provides an adjusting section [8 having screwmechanisms foradjusting the same which have no projecting parts likelyto be fouled on exterior objects when the tool is presented to the workand. providing for the tool as a whole a smooth end portion easilyadvanced into tight places.

In the construction herein shown the line of the ears formed by theflanges of channel l8 to receive the upper pivot I6 is extended as asmooth convex curve to form at the exterior surface of the section l8 athickened portion 23 of the web. Part-way down the section at least aportion of the web is inset from the exterior surface of this projection23 so that the latter presents a rearwardly facing overhanging shoulder25. Through the portion 23 extends a headless set screw 21 adapted tothrust against the outer edge of the lever I2 at a point near the pivot[6. It is here shown as provided with a hexagon socket 29 to receive aset screw wrench of usual type and, as appears from Fig. 2, it isnormally received entirely within the exterior contour of the thickenedportion 23 of the web of channel section 18.

The oppositely acting or tensioning screw mechanism embodies a nut inthe form of a threaded sleeve 3| freely journalled in the web of channel18 and having a flange 33, herein of hexagon contour, which overliesthat web and is received behind or in the lee of the shoulder 25 whichlies closely adjacent thereto. The thickness of this flange and itsspacing from shoulder 25 are such only as to permit efiicientapplication of awrench either of the socket type or of the fixedend-opening type. Cooperating With 3 the threaded bore of the sleeve 31is a threaded male member 35 pivotally secured to lever l2. The methodhere shown of securing anchorage of this member to the lever is not initself new, the member 35 being formed with an eye 31 which isjournalled on a cross-pin 39 which passes through the sides of a coredout pad of lever I2.

The arrangement just described for the tension screw mechanism providesan adequate length of thread between the member 35 and the sleeve 3| togive the necessary strength and also the desired range of adjustment ata location inward of the external contour of the section. The end of thethreaded member '35 in its outermost position terminates eithersubstantially at or inwardly of the exterior surface of flange 33 andinwardly of the external line of projection 23 extended.

Now, viewing Fig. 1, let us suppose that the edges ID are worn and haveto be resharpened. We may then bring the edges together by moving thepivot l6 out. To do so we slack off sleeve 3| and move screw 21 in. Boththe screw 21 and the stem 35 move inwardly, viewing Fig. 3, stillfarther from the exterior surface of the adjusting section.

' The device is simple, may be delicately adjusted by simple tools, yetis such as to provide adequate strength within restricted dimensions.

It will be apparent that the invention may be embodied in other specificforms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof,and the present embodiment should therefore be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear inseveral matters from the description itself. Reference is to be had tothe appended claim to indicate those principles of the inventionexemplified by the particular embodiment described and which it isdesired to secure by Letters Patent.

We claim:

A tool of the class described comprising a pivoted jaw-carrying lever, apivoted handle lever and an adjusting section which connects them, theadjusting section having generally the form of a channel with its weboverlying the backs of the levers and its flanges overlying their sides,the flanges at their end portions providing cars by which the section ispivotally attached to the levers respectively, the contour of the earsbeing extended in a smooth convex curve to define an end portion of theexterior surface of the web, the surface then being inset to provide anoverhanging, rearwardly presented shoulder, a headless set screw passingthrough said end portion to thrust on the back of one of the levers andreceived entirely inwardly of said exterior surface, and a member freelyrotatable in the web, said member having a head overlying the externalsurface thereof under the overhang of said shoulder and an internallythreaded stem extending through the web, and a cooperating threadedmember swingably associated with said one lever, and the two membershaving a substantial length of interengaged thread inward of theexterior surface of the section with the first member at leastsubstantially completely enclosing the end of the cooperating member inall relative positions of the two.

JOHN W. GEDDES. WILLIS F. TIBBETTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,348,735 Porter Aug. 3, 19202,329,981 Church et a1. Sept. 21, 1943 2,382,307 Geddes et a1 1- Aug.14, 1945

